Tonight Thomas and I tried to go to The Publick House for dinner. It was too busy (private party) so we had dinner elsewhere, and then returned for our beer tasting. Thom's entry will be posted tomorrow.
Golden Monkey Tripel
I began with the Golden Monkey Tripel because of its name. It is a Belgian style Tripel. The beer was served in an oversized wine glass.
Appearance: Poured with a thin head that disappeared quickly and left no lace. It was a hazy brassy/golden color.
Smell: There was a super sweet aroma with a sort of sweet corn smell.
Taste: There is a tingle on the tip of the tongue that lasts through the end. There was a sweet almost caramel center and a sweet bready finish with some alcohol warming. There wasn't too much carbonation.
Mouthfeel/Drinkability: This was light and smooth and I could definitely drink a lot of it.
Overall: I liked this beer, it was tasty.
Vichtenaar
My second beer was recommended by the bartender after we were informed that they were out of Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Red Ale. It was called Vichtenaar and it, like the former, is a Flemish Red Ale. It was served in a white wine glass. The bottle's label showed a coat of arms with lions.
Appearance: This beer was red in the light but brown in the dark, and was clear. This beer had a thick, bubbly head that quickly dissapated to a thin film.
Smell: Yeasty, with nutty and buttery notes, almost like a red wine. It kind of smelled like a tree branch.
Taste: Very sweet in the beginning, like a lambic. Sweet and fruity through the middle and a sour finish, with metallic undertones. Mild carbonation.
Mouthfeel: This was also smooth, but heavier than the Belgian Tripel.
Drinkability: I could drink one or two bottles, but no more - it has a strong flavor.
Overall: I really liked the sweet/sour of this beer, very interesting for the palate.
Cheese
We enjoyed a cheese with this beer; Morbier from France. This was a mild flavored, but stinky, cow's milk cheese. There was an ash layer in the middle of the cheese to separate the early from the late milking. The cheese was white, soft and creamy with a hard, edible rind. It had a "farm" flavor and went well with the Vichtenaar. The spicy mustard from La Chouffe complemented the cheese very well. We liked the cheese best when eaten on top of sourdough bread coated with the spicy mustard. We both liked the flavor of the mustard seeds popping in our mouths. The cheese was also served with yummy sweet pickles.
A song came out of tonight called "Public Urination" sung to the tune of Battle Hymn of the Republic
Chorus: Public, Public Urination
Ali: Causes me much consternation
Thom: It's my favorite occupation
Chorus: Public Urination
Golden Monkey Tripel
I began with the Golden Monkey Tripel because of its name. It is a Belgian style Tripel. The beer was served in an oversized wine glass.
Appearance: Poured with a thin head that disappeared quickly and left no lace. It was a hazy brassy/golden color.
Smell: There was a super sweet aroma with a sort of sweet corn smell.
Taste: There is a tingle on the tip of the tongue that lasts through the end. There was a sweet almost caramel center and a sweet bready finish with some alcohol warming. There wasn't too much carbonation.
Mouthfeel/Drinkability: This was light and smooth and I could definitely drink a lot of it.
Overall: I liked this beer, it was tasty.
Vichtenaar
My second beer was recommended by the bartender after we were informed that they were out of Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Red Ale. It was called Vichtenaar and it, like the former, is a Flemish Red Ale. It was served in a white wine glass. The bottle's label showed a coat of arms with lions.
Appearance: This beer was red in the light but brown in the dark, and was clear. This beer had a thick, bubbly head that quickly dissapated to a thin film.
Smell: Yeasty, with nutty and buttery notes, almost like a red wine. It kind of smelled like a tree branch.
Taste: Very sweet in the beginning, like a lambic. Sweet and fruity through the middle and a sour finish, with metallic undertones. Mild carbonation.
Mouthfeel: This was also smooth, but heavier than the Belgian Tripel.
Drinkability: I could drink one or two bottles, but no more - it has a strong flavor.
Overall: I really liked the sweet/sour of this beer, very interesting for the palate.
Cheese
We enjoyed a cheese with this beer; Morbier from France. This was a mild flavored, but stinky, cow's milk cheese. There was an ash layer in the middle of the cheese to separate the early from the late milking. The cheese was white, soft and creamy with a hard, edible rind. It had a "farm" flavor and went well with the Vichtenaar. The spicy mustard from La Chouffe complemented the cheese very well. We liked the cheese best when eaten on top of sourdough bread coated with the spicy mustard. We both liked the flavor of the mustard seeds popping in our mouths. The cheese was also served with yummy sweet pickles.
A song came out of tonight called "Public Urination" sung to the tune of Battle Hymn of the Republic
Chorus: Public, Public Urination
Ali: Causes me much consternation
Thom: It's my favorite occupation
Chorus: Public Urination
Labels: Brouwerij Verhaeghe, Cheese, Flanders Red Ale, Reviews, Sour Beer, The Publick House, Tripel, Victory Brewing Company
